After four consecutive sprints in four days of racing, it was finally time for an explanation between the favorites for the general classification on the Gree-Tour de Guangxi on the occasion of a 5th stage rightly considered to be the main stage of this week in China. La traditional arrival at the top of Nongla Scenic Area (3.3 km at 6.6%) was indeed on the menu for decide between the best punchers/climbers on this 165.8 km course, and it is the Belgian Lennert Van Eetvelt who raised his arms after a great battle on the final climb! The runner of the Lottery Dstny assumed his status as favorite of the day by dominating the Briton with punch in the last ramps Oscar Onley (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) and logically achieves a double victory overall.
Video – Lennert Van Eetvelt had already done it on the UAE Tour
Victor Lofis y a cru… Three French people in the top 5!
But before this logical outcome on paper, we believed in a French victory in Chinese lands with the resurrection of Victor Lafay (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale)! After following the offensive of Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) a little less than 2 kilometers from the summit, the Lyon puncher took off alone and seemed well on his way to achieving his first success since the Tour de France 2023 and thus end in style a difficult 2024 season greatly truncated by a knee injury. But he finally stumbled and crashed in the last meters with the highest percentages, seeing the two strongest of the day descend on him just 100 meters from the finish. Lafay will not even have the honors of the final podium, beaten at the wire and nine seconds from the lead by his teammate and compatriot Alex Baudinauthor of a very beautiful climb.
The French particularly shone in this final since Pavel Sivakov (UAE Team Emirates) completes the top 5 of the day at 11 seconds, whileEwen Costiou (ARKEA-B&B HOTELS) signs its best result in the World Tour with a nice 8th place at 25″. As no difference had been made during the previous days with the exception of a few bonuses, the general classification is logically very upset and almost entirely reflects that of the stage On the eve of the 6th and final stage, Lennert Van Eetvelt has 5″ of margin on Oscar Onleywhile Alex Baudin (+ 15″), Victor Lafay (+ 19″) et Pavel Sivakov (+ 21″) are in ambush.
